This 2015 jewel in our trifecta of remarkable vintages stands and delivers. Indeed, with the addition of vibrant cabernet from our newly anointed Las Posadas block to our remarkable hillside merlots, this striking expression of what Howell Mountain can-do… lends veracity to the notion that “three is a charm”.

Ruby red in the glass, this tantalizing blend signals its arrival with precociously heady aromas of black cherry and plum, complemented by hints of lightly toasted anise and baking spices. True to the storied upper reaches of Howell Mountain, flavors of ripe blackberry, black tea and peppercorn give way to a rustic mid-palate, with a pleasing acidity, and notable structure in-play. Aged 26 months in 31% new French Oak, the wine’s oak framing reveals what comes when skilled handling is deftly applied to fruit from this heralded appellation. The result reveals a teasing, but feisty and focused Hillside Blend, whose muscularity and nimbleness present a beguiling, layering of juxtapositions. With the wine’s pre-release staged during this summer’s season of movie blockbusters, we invite you to consider how this blend might compare to the lithesome Diana, Princess of the Amazon’s (a.k.a. Gal Gadot of Wonder Woman fame).

The grapes that made this wine were grown in an east-facing hillside Howell Mountain vineyard perched 2100 feet above the Napa Valley floor, and from the remarkable Las Posadas Vineyard located just outside the Rancho. The terraced vineyard is planted on an extreme slope, producing thick-skinned clusters capable of creating a wine with intensity, structure, elegance, and weight.